Push pole structure



ture; and

Premises. 24, .1942

umrao STATES a TE -r OFFICE r I rusn s' ituc'rm I Ellsworth W. Alllflll, Cedar nlllldl, I", ll-

signor to La Plant-Chants Manufacturing Inc., Cedar Rapids, lawn, a corporation of Delaware r Application January 21. 1941, serial No. 370,940-

-12 Claims.

My present invention'relates to a push pole structure which is used in connection with roadbuilders or bulldozers. a

One object of the invention is to provide a "floating type of push pole whichincludes a .pair of members that may either float relative to each other or be locked in anyone of a number of adjusted positions with relation to each other. I

Another object is to provide a' push pole which may be fabricated of steel-plates welded together and which includes relatively rugged pivot members and a latch mechanism which may be selectively locked in either a latched position or an unlatched position, the latter position permitting the floating operation of the push pole.

A further obiectis to provide a 'push pole which may be adjusted for floating operation so as to allow the ends of a roadbuilder blade or the like they are identical.

necting members therefor.

accompanying drawing. Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functionalfstandpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which: V Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roadbuilder mounted on a tractor and including a pair of push poles of my present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of I Figure 1 toshow the connection of the front end,

of the push pole with the road-builder blade.

' Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the push pole structure per se showing three diti'erent positions to which it may beadjusted. 1 Figure 4 is a plan view of the push pole strucare enlarged sectional. views l respectively of Fig- Figures 5 and 6 on the lines 5 5 'and On the accompanying drawing 1 have used the reference character '1 to indicate generally a tractor of the track-laying type. Push arms ll are pivoted to track frame brackets l2 mounted von the track frames ll of the tractor. The arms it have a cross piece M at their forward ends to the center of which a roadbuilder blade i5 is pivotally' secured. The roadbuilder blade may be controlled as to elevation by hydraulic jacks It operating bell cranks IT and links i8. Theforegoing parts are now provided in mosttypes of roadbuilders.

My present invention centers around a push pole structure indicated generally at PP. Two of the push poles are pivoted one for each push arm II, but I will describe only one of them as The push pole PP includes first, second and thirdmembers. The first member consists of a plate ll having an upper flange 2i and a similar lower flange 2|. The flanges 20 and 2i are provided with reinforcing members 22 and 23 respectively which form perforated ears at the rear end of the push pole. Intermediate the.

ends of the push pole. upper, nd lower perforated ears 24 and 25 are also provided, short straps 2. being used as reinforcements and con- 2I are secured to by welding.

The perforations of the cars 22, 23, 24 and 25 are adapted to selectively receive a vertical pin the parts 2| and 2i preferably 21 (see Figure 1) for mountingthe push pole on the push arm ll. Figural shows the arrange-' ment such that the right-hand end of the blade '.II is in advance of its left-hand end. The pin 21 may be removed and replaced in a perforation 28 when adjusting the blade II to a-position at right angles to the line of travel or may remain in the perforation 20 and eoact with the ears 24 and 2' when reversing the angle of attack of the blade I. r

The second member mentioned includes a plate 2! pivoted at its rear end on "a'pin 2d, the pin ll is carried by the plate II. and by a reinforcing plate ii. The plate 3| is spaced from theplate I! so as to receive the plate "between them and has upper and lower inturned flanges 32 welded to the reinforcing ears 22.

Theforward end of the plate 2! is perforated to receive apivot pin 32. 4 The pin 33 is carried by the third member which consists of a plate 2 it having a plurality of vertically spaced ears 35. A reinforcing plate 3 similar to the plate 3| is also provided for the thirdvmember with the front The parts 24, 25 and to-the plate 28 to provide a longer and better wearing bearing on the pivot pins.

The ears 85 of the third member are secured to the back of the blade l as by a vertical pin or key 38 extending through perforations 38 of the ears 35 and through similar perforations of a bracket 44 (see Figure 2).

The front end of the plate I9 is provided with three notches indicated at 4|, 42 and 43. The plate 29 is provided with a slot 44 adapted to register with any one of the notches 4|, 42 or 48. A pair of spaced flanges 45 and 46 are welded to the outer surface of the plate 29 to reinforce it and to provide means to support a pivot pin 41. Pivoted on the pin 41 is a latch plate 48.

The latch plate 48 is adapted to project through the slot 44 and into a selected one of the notches 4|, 42 or 43 as shown by solid and dotted lines in Figure 4 and by dotted lines in Figure 5. The latch plate 48 may be latched in such position by a bolt 49 extending through perforations 58 in the flanges 45 and 46. When it is desirable tojhave the push pole operate floatingly however, the latch plate 48'may be swun ,to the position of Figure 3 (dash line position in Figure 4 and full line position in Figure 5) and -locked in such position by the bolt 49 through perforations 5| in the flanges 45 and 46.

A plate 52 is secured to the plate 29 adjacent the forward end of the plate I!) and is of ofiset character so as to provide a space in which the plate I! may vertically slide yet confine the plates I! and 29 to a position closely adjacent each other. The plate 52 is provided with a slot to receive the latch plate 48.

My construction obviously provides a means for adjusting the push pole so that it is rigid in any one of three adjusted positions so that the blade ll may have either end lower than the other to a predetermined degree. It is also adjustable so that the ends of the blade may float up and down jacent the front end of said first member to retain said members in adjacent positions with respect to each other, a latch'pivotally carried by said second member and adapted to selectively coact with any one of said recesses of said first member, means for locking said latch in any selected coacting position to rigidly fix said second member relative to said first member or in non-coacting position to permit floating of said second member relative to said first member, and means at the front end of said second member to pivotally secure it to a roadbuilder blade.

2. A push pole of the character described comprising a first member adapted to be secured to a push arm ofa roadbuilder or the like, a pivot pin carried by said member, a second member pivoted on said pivot pin and extending forwardly alongside said first member, means to retain said members in adjacent relative positions with respect 'to each other, a latch carried byone of said members and adapted to selectively coact with the other member, means for locking said "latch in such coacting position to rigidly fix said second member relative to said first member or in non-coacting position to permit floating of said second member relative to said first member,

' and means to secure said second member to a to follow the contour of the ground when such I operationis desire-e. The adjustment is readily accomplished and looked as desired by the bolt 4.8 after which operations of the roadbuilder may be resumed.

When the blade is adjusted to an inclined position, or when it moves to' an inclined position when set for floating operation, such inclination is permitted by a degree of looseness in the joints between the pins 38 and the slot-like openings 88 of the ears 35.

The construction of the push pole is such that it may be used for a variety of operations heretofore unsatisfactorily performed with a push pole of rigid, non-adjustable and non-floating character. My push pole has the advantage however of being locked in a rigid position when desired.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may lie-reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a push pole structure, a .first membe adapted to be secured to a push arm of a roadbuilder or the like, said member having a plurality of vertically spaced recesses adjacent its forward end, a pivot pin carried by said member adjacent the rear end thereof; a second member pivoted on said pivot pin and extending forwardly alongside saidfirst member, means adroadbuilder blade.

3. In a push pole structure, a firstmember adapted to be secured to a tractor operating a roadbuilder or the like, said member having a notch adjacent its forward end, a pivot pin carried by said member adjacent the rear end thereof, a second member pivoted on said pivot pin and extending forwardly alongside said first member, a latch adapted to selectively coact with said notch of said first member, or to assume a non-coacting position to permit floating of said second member relative to said first member, and means at the-front end of said second member to pivotally secure it to a roadbuilder blade.

, latch in any selected coacting position to rigidly fix said second member relative to said first member, and means at the front end 0 said second member to pivotally secure it to a oadbuilder blade. 7

5. In a push pole structure, a first member adapted to be secured-to a push arm of a roadbuilder or the like, a pivot pin carried by said member adjacent the rear end thereof, a second Y member pivoted on said pivot pin and extending roadbuilder or the like, a pivot pin carried by.

forwardly alongside said first member, means adjacent the front end of said first member to retain said members in adjacent relative positions with respect to each other and to permit floating of said second member relative to said first member, and means at the front end of said second gilellbel to pivotally secure it to a roadbuilder 6. In a push pole structure, a first member adapted to be secured to a tractor operating a said first member,-a second member having its rear end pivoted onsaid pivot pin, a third member pivoted to: the front end of said second memfor securing said third member to a roadbuilder ber, means for securing said third-member to a blade, a latch plate pivoted to said second memroadbuilder blade, said second member having a pair of spaced flanges and a slot aligned with the space between said'flanges, a latch platepivoted between said flanges" and adapted to ex-,

a notch of said first member, and a bolt through saidflanges and through said latch plate to retain it in either latching or non-latching position. 7. In a push pole structure, a. first member comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the side of a push arm or the like, said member having a pair of flanges overlapping the top and bottom of said push arm, said flanges having perforations to receive an attaching pin for mounting said member on said push arm, said plate having a plurality of vertically spaced notches adjacent its forward end, said plate adjacent its rear end having a reinforcing member including a plate spaced from said first plate and rigidly .securedrelative thereto, a pivot pin carried by said plates, 9. second member comprising a plate having its rear end perforated and located be v tween said pair of plates with said Pivot pin ex tending through the perforation thereof, said second plate having a pivot perforation at its front end," a third member including a pair of plates between which said front endof said second member extends, a pivot pin carried by said last pair of plates and extending through said perforation of said front end of said second member, means for securing said third member to a roadbuilder blade, said second member having a pairof spaced flanges and a slot aligned with the spacee'between said flanges, -a latch plate pivoted between; said flanges and -'adapted to extend through said slot and selectively coact with one of said notches of said first plate, means through said last flangesiandxthrough said latch plate to retain it in either latching or non-latching. position, and a reinforcing plate securedflto said second plate and having a spaced portion between 'which, and the second plate, the forward end of said first plate is slidably mounted, said reinforcing plate havinga slot to receive said latch plate in its latched position.

8. In a push pole structure, a;flrst. member comprising a plate adaptedto be secured to a I push arm of a tractor operating a roadbuilder or the like, said member having a pair of flanges overlapping the top and bottom of said push am, said flanges having perforations to receive an attachingpin for mounting said member on said push arm, said plate having a plurality of vertically spaced notches in its forward end. a pivot pin carried by said plate adjacent its rear end, a second member comprising aplate having'its rear end perforated and receiving said pivot pin, said. second plate having 'a pivot perforation at her and adaptedto selectively ,coact with one of said notches of said first plate, and meansthrough said latch plate to retain it in either latching or non-latching position.

9. A push pole structure comprising a first member including a plate secured to the side of a push arm or the like, said plate having a recess.

' blade, a latch carried by said second member and adapted to selectively coact with said recess, and means coacting with said latch to retain it in either latching or non-latching position,

10. In a push pole structure, a flrst'memberadapted to be secured to the side of a push arm of a roadbuilder or the like, said member having said second member having a pivot perforation at its front end,a third member including a pivot pin extending through said Perforation of said front end of said second member, means for securing said third member to a roadbuilder blade, said second member havinga pair of spaced flanges, a latch plate pivoted between said flanges and adapted to selectively coact with one of saidv notches of said first member, and a bolt through said flanges and through said' latch plate to retain it in a selected latching position.

11. In a'push pole structure, a first membe adapted to be secured to a tractor or the like and including a vertical plate having vertically spaced notches in its forward end, a second member member to retain said first and second members in relatively fixed-positions with respect to each other, said second member being freely movable relative to said first member when said third member is in a non-coacting position with reits front end. a third member, a pivot pin carried thereby and extending through said perforation spect to said notches, and means to secure said second member to a roadbuilder blade or the like.

- 12. In apush pole structure. a first member adapted to be secured to'a tractor or the like and 1 including aplate having notches therein. a second member adapted to be secured to a roadbuilder blade or the like, said second member being movable relative to said first member, a latch pivoted to said second member and adapted to enter one of said notches of said first member'to being movable relative to said first member.

"ELIBWOR'IH W. AUSTIN. 

